Folding bed



G. W. RODEGAP.

FOLDING BBD.

No. 478,761. Patented July 12, 1892.

G. W. RODEOAP;

2 Sheets-811eet 2.

FOLDING BED.

(No Model.)

Patented July 12, 1892.-

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE WV. RODECAP, OF MIDDLETOIVN, INDIANA.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,761, dated July 12, 1892.

Application filed August '7, 1891- To all .whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. RODEOAP, of Middletown, in the county of Henry and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in beds, and more particularly to improvements in folding beds.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved folding bed exceedingly simple, durable, light, and convenient 1n construction, and which when folded will hold the bedding on the bed-bottom and can be placed on end in a closet or other place.

A further object is to provide an improved bed having folding sides and legs, and improved means whereby the parts can be locked when unfolded or folded, and whereby the legs and other parts at the opposite ends can be separately folded or unfolded with ease and rapidity. These objects are accomplished by and this invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in. the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective showing the bed or crib and parts in operative p0s1t1on, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is an end view showing the parts folded,the end of the bed-frame being broken away. Fig. 3 1s a detail perspective illustrating a portion of a leg and frame cross-piece and a catch to hold the leg in operative position. Fig.4 is a detail lllustrating the adjustable clamp holding the spring-bottom.

In the drawings, reference-letter a indicates the frame of the bed.

1) indicates cross-pieces secured within the frame a short distance from and parallel with the ends of the frame and above the horizontal corner supports or cleats c, which are firmly and strongly secured within the inner fierial No. 402,026. (No model.)

corners of the frame, as shown. The swinging legs d at a distance below their upper ends are pivoted between said cross-pieces and the ends of the frame, so that their lower ends, which are provided with the casters e, can swing transversely of the frame. Two legs are located at each end and are pivoted on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the frame near the ends of the end pieces, so that when the legs are in their operative position, with their lower ends swung outwardly, the outer sides of the legs just beneath the pivotal point thereof will engage said cleats c, which will form a rest, support, and stop therefor. These legs are so constructed and mounted that when in operative position they are arranged as shown in Fig. 1, but when folded they will lie side by side within the space between the ends of the frame and said cross-pieces. The upper ends of the legs extend above the pivotal points in the ends of the frame.

The bed is provided with folding sides f,at their lower edges hinged suitably to the upper edges of the sides of the frame, so as to extend upwardly above said sides when in operative position, as shown in Fig. 1, and also to extend the length of the bed, thereby forming supplemental sides or upward extensions, these sides being so hinged that they can swing inwardly upon the bed or to the upright position shown in Fig. 1. Each side is formed in two transverse sections, being divided at the center, as shown. The outer end of each side section is pivotally united to the upper end of the leg on the opposite side of the same end of the bed by the link g, hinged at its lower end to the upper end of the leg and at its opposite end journaled or otherwise suitably secured to the outer end of the side section, so that the two links at each end of the bed cross, as shown in Fig. 1, when the parts are in operative position. The parts are held in this position by the outward spread of the lower ends of the legs, which bear against the cleats, so that the strain and weight is not borne by the pivots of the legs, but is more equally distributed and is principally carried by the cleats.

The parts are locked when in operative adj ustment by means of the automatic catches it, one catch being provided for each leg and each catch consisting of a shank pivoted to the cross-piece b, with the hooked outer end freely movable by gravity, and each leg on its inner edge being provided with a beveled offset h, forming a shoulder, so that when disengaged from the leg the catch will rest upon the upper edge of said cross-bar with a portion of its edge projecting over the space between the cross-bar and end of the bed-frame, and when the upper end of the leg swings in wardly during the unfolding operation said beveled oifset will strike the free end of the gravity-catch, and thereby lift the same and allow said catch to engage the shoulder formed by the olfset, and thereby lock the parts in operative position.

When the parts are locked in operative position, the bed can be folded by lifting the said catches in succession and then pressing in each supplemental side section, which will cause said side to fold down upon the bed and will throw the leg up into the spaces between the ends of the frame and the crosspieces. When the sides and legs have been folded, said catches can be swung up,so that their shoulders will engage the upper edges of the supplemental side frames, and thereby lock the same down and hold the bedding within the bed, so that the bed can be placed on end in any suitable place.

Great advantages are obtained by having the sides formed in sections, as described, because the legs can be separately folded with great ease and rapidity, and after the legs at one end of the bed have been folded or unfolded those at the other end can be correspondingly operated; also, great advantages are obtained by having the upper ends of the legs directly secured to the outer ends of the sides by means of links pivoted at opposite ends, respectively, to the legs and sides directly; also, great advantages are obtained by use of the locking devices.

This bed is simple, durable, light, and convenient. It can be folded or unfolded quickly and easily and will lock itself automatically in unfolded position.

1 indicates the spring bed-bottom, at one end edge secured between the two clampingbars j, which are rigid upon the corner-cleats at that end of the bed. The opposite end of the spring bed-bottom is secured between the sliding clamp formed by two barsjj, resting upon the cleats c at that end of the bed and beneath the strips Z, secured rigidly longitudinal of the sides of the bed-frame, as shown. These strips Z and the cleats are provided with registering series of bolt-holes m, extending longitudinally of the bed-frame, and the sliding clamp is held in the desired position be tween said cleats and strips by means of bolts m, passed through said apertures. When it is desired to increase the tension of the spring bottom, the sliding clamp is forced outwardly by suitable means and the bolts dropped into the next hole toward the outer end of the bed. The usual mode of moving the sliding clamp is by dropping a bolt into one of said series of bolt-holes and using said bolt as a fulcrum for a lever of suitable length-say'two feet and applying a block to the clamp three or four inches from the bolt and pressing the weight end of the lever against the block and using the opposite end as a power end and then applying pressure thereto and moving the sliding clamp the desired distance and then dropping the boltin front of such clamp.

It is evident that various changes might be resorted to in the forms and arrangements and constructions of the parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not limit myself to the peculiar constructions herein set forth.

' hat I claim is 1. In a bed, the combination of the rectangular frame, the swinging longitudinal sides formed in independent sections, the independently mounted transversely swinging legs, and the links at their outer ends directly pivoted to their respective side sections and at their opposite ends directly hinged to their respective legs at points permanently above the pivotal points thereof, combined and arranged, substantially as set forth, so that the side sections and their links and legs can be folded independently of each other.

2. In a bed, the combination of the rectangular frame, the legs separately pivoted at the ends thereof, and having inclined shoulders above their pivotal points, the swinging sides, the links pivotally connecting the upper portion of each leg and its respective side, and the swinging catches pivoted to the ends of the frame and having the hooked outer ends arranged so as to engage said shoulders of the legs when the legs are spread at their lower ends and thereby lock the legs, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a bed, the combination of the frame, the transversely-swinging legs pivoted on opposite sides of the center of the frame ends, each provided with a lateral beveled offset at its side edge above the pivotal point, and the swinging catches for the legs pivoted to the frame ends and having the hooked free ends arranged to be engaged and lifted by said offsets as the legs are spread and to drop over and automatically lock the legs, as set forth.

4. In a bed, the combination of the frame, the transversely-swinging legs pivoted below their upper ends on opposite sides of the ends of the frame, the swinging side frames, the links pivoted to their respective side frames and pivoted to the upper ends of their respective legs permanently above the pivotal points thereof, the catches pivoted to the frame ends to engage said legs and hold them spread, and the corner cleats or braces of the frame located outside of the legs below their pivotal points, and against which the outer edges of the legs bear when spread, thereby relieving strain from the pivots and links, substantially as described.

5. In a bed, the combination of the frame, the transversely-swinging legs pivoted below their upper ends on opposite sides of the center of each frame end, the swinging divided side frames, the links at their outer ends pivoted to their respective side frames and at their inner ends pivoted to the upper ends of their respective legs, so that the legs at one end of the bed can be folded independently of those at the other end, substantially as set forth, and the swinging catches, one for each leg, pivoted to the frame ends arranged to engage their respective legs and hold them spread.

6. In a bed, the combination of the frame having the corner cleats to brace the frame on opposite sides of each end, the transversely-swinging legs pivoted below their upper ends on opposite sides of each end between said cleats, so that their outer edges will bear against said cleats when spread to remove strain from the pivots and links, the hinged side frames, and the links at their outer ends pivoted to their respective side frames and at their opposite ends pivoted to their respective legs permanently above the pivotal points thereof, as set forth.

7. In combination, the frame, the corner cleats bracing the frame, a bed-bottom supported on said corner cleats, the swinging side frames, the transversely-swinging legs,- pivoted on opposite sides of the frame ends between and above the planes of said cleats, so that the legs rest against the cleats when spread, the links pivotally connecting the legs and side frames, and catches to engage and hold the legs, substantially as described.

8. In a bed, the combination of the frame having the corner cleats, the transverselyswinging legs provided with shoulders and pivoted to the ends of the frame on opposite sides of the center thereof and between said cleats and below their upper ends, so that when the legs are spread they will bear against the inner edges of the cleats, as and for the purposes set forth, the swinging sides, the links pivoted to the sides and to the legs above their pivotal points, as set forth, and swinging catches pivoted to the frame to engage said leg-shoulders and hold the legs spread.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- GEORGE WV. RODEGAP.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. KITTINGER, D. J. CRITTENBERGER. 

